smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
It's a must see destination.
It's a must see destination.
| Serbia overall | This Advice is current for Sunday, 14 March 2010. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. The overall level of the advice has not changed.
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Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
You should exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Serbia because of the risk of politically-motivated violence, serious inter-ethnic violence and criminal activity.
You should avoid all protests and demonstrations because of their potential to turn violent. Demonstrations in March 2009 turned violent, with several people, including police, injured and property damaged. Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
The Republic of Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. The Government of Serbia stated that the declaration was illegal. Australia has recognised the independent Republic of Kosovo. Embassies of some countries which had recognised Kosovo's independence were attacked during violent protests in February 2008. Embassies of countries that recognise Kosovo remain a possible focus of demonstrations and protests which could turn violent.
Intermittent unrest remains likely along the border between Serbia and Kosovo.
There is a danger associated with unexploded landmines left over from the 1999 conflict in Kosovo and in Southern Serbia.
You should also be aware that the indiscriminate use of fireworks and firearms in 'happy fire' can result in accidental injury. Each year people are injured through the misuse of fireworks and firearms at celebrations.
Southern Serbia: Clashes between security forces and armed groups, often associated with separatist movements, have occurred in the Presevo and Bujanovac areas of southern Serbia and at border points with Kosovo. In July 2009 an explosion in Presevo injured a woman and a child.
Violent criminal acts, such as assassinations and murder, are often linked to organised crime and not directed at foreigners. The incidence of other violent crime, including carjacking and car theft, continues to increase. There have been several violent attacks against foreigners recently, including a shooting, with one attack resulting in the death of the victim.
Petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag snatching is common. Criminals are known to target foreigners in crowded places including markets and on public transport.
Threats have been made against the Australian Embassy and its staff in Belgrade.
Credit card fraud is common. Care should be taken to protect credit cards and PIN numbers at all times.
Travellers may experience difficulties crossing the border with Kosovo. See the Entry and Exit Requirements section below for further information.
Driving in Serbia can be dangerous due to poorly maintained roads and vehicles. Road rules are frequently ignored by drivers and pedestrians. Roads are sometimes shared with pedestrians and farm animals in rural areas. Seatbelts must be worn where fitted. Laws regarding driving under the influence of alcohol are strict and a driver with a blood alcohol level reading higher than 0.05% is considered intoxicated and can be charged. For further advice, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.
Although public transport is usually reliable, it can be congested and standards are variable. Use taxis that are officially registered with both a municipal registration number and the taxi number.
Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.
If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.
The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.
Serbia is located in an active earthquake zone. Serious earthquakes are rare but tremors are common.
Bush and forest fires can occur in summer months (June to September) particularly in southern Serbia. Extreme hot and dry periods may lead to water shortages.
Information on natural disasters, including earthquakes, can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.
Australians are advised to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, cash debit cards or cash cards. Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas. Most banks in larger towns and cities have ATMs which accept international bank cards with Plus, Cirrus or Maestro access, however, ATMs only dispense Serbian Dinar which cannot be exchanged outside of Serbia. Travellers cheques are not widely accepted in Serbia and can usually only be cashed at larger branches of some banks.
Make two photocopies of valuable documents such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.
Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.
When you are in Serbia, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
Penalties for drug offences are severe and include lengthy imprisonment in local jails.
Photography of Serbian military and police personnel, establishments, vehicles and equipment is prohibited.
While homosexual acts are not illegal in Serbia, homosexuality is not widely accepted in Serbian society. Verbal and physical aggression towards homosexuals occurs. The Serbian Government cancelled the 2009 Gay Pride Parade in Belgrade as police were unable to guarantee the safety of participants.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
The Republic of Serbia has no restrictions on dual nationality.
Prior to travel, Australian/Serbia dual nationals should seek advice from the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Serbia as they may be required to complete compulsory military service.
Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information for dual nationals.
The Serbian authorities will not allow travel into Serbia from Kosovo unless you had entered Kosovo from Serbia. There has been an increasing number of incidents where foreign nationals have been denied entry into Serbia if they have any border entry or exit stamps from Kosovo in their passports.
On 1 October 2009, new entry laws for foreigners in Serbia came into force. Australian travellers do not require a visa for visits lasting up to 90 days but are issued visitor entry permits on arrival. Australians in Serbia on visitor entry permits can now only remain for a total of 90 days in any six month period. After 90 days they must depart Serbia and remain outside Serbia until the six months period since their initial entry has passed, before they can apply for a further visitor entry permit.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Serbia for the most up to date information.
Travellers are required to declare currency and valuables (such as lap top computers, cameras, and jewellery) with a value of 5,000 euros, or equivalent, on arrival and obtain a declaration from customs officials. This declaration form is required on departure from the country. Failure to comply may result in the confiscation of valuables and funds. Additional information on these regulations can be obtained from the Embassy or Consulate of Serbia.
Foreigners in Serbia are required to register their place of residence with the local Ministry of Interior office or police station within 24 hours of arrival. If staying at a hotel, registration may be completed as a part of the check-in procedure. Travellers staying with family or friends in a private home are required to register at the nearest police station. Failure to do so may result in fines and/or detention.
Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 has spread throughout the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) provides useful information for individuals and travellers on its website. For further information and advice to Australians, including on possible quarantine measures overseas, see our travel bulletin on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller’s medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.
Medical facilities in Serbia are below Australian standards. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to a destination with appropriate facilities would be necessary. Costs for a medical evacuation could be considerable.
Levels of air pollution in Serbia can be high, particularly in winter when heavy smoke from coal and wood burning heaters can linger. Accidental emission of toxic substances from factories is not uncommon and public health warnings after such accidents are not always issued. Sufferers of asthma or other bronchial conditions should seek medical advice.
Hepatitis A is a risk for travellers to Serbia. Travellers should discuss with their doctor the need to have hepatitis A vaccinations prior to travelling. Travellers should drink bottled water and avoid raw or undercooked food especially if travelling to the city of Nis.
Travel in forested areas in Serbia brings the risk of exposure to tick-borne encephalitis. Ticks are common in country areas and are active from spring to autumn. We recommend you take measures to avoid tick-bites, particularly in rural areas.
Outbreaks of food-borne and other infectious diseases (including trichinosis, brucellosis and rabies) occur from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. We recommend you avoid raw and undercooked food, and avoid unpasteurised dairy products.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world, including Serbia For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
If you are in Kosovo, please refer to our separate travel advisory for that country.
The Australian Embassy is located at the following address:
Australian Embassy
8th floor
Vladimira Popovica 38-40
11070 New Belgrade
Telephone (381 11) 330 3400
Facsimile (381 11) 330 3409
www.serbia.embassy.gov.au
General email enquiries : belgrade.embassy@dfat.gov.au
Visa email enquiries : diac-belgrade@dfat.gov.au
If you are travelling to Serbia, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register on-line or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency; whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the Embassy you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
